Chapter 219: I Fight for Myself
Hundreds of martial artists stood frozen in place.
Yeop Hyeon was terrifying, to be sure, but not a single one of them broke ranks first. They all seemed unable to let go of their lingering attachment to the lands of Cheongju.
In their eyes, Cheongju was nothing less than a vast treasure trove. How many could simply walk away from such riches laid bare before them?
Yeop Hyeon, too, was making an effort not to provoke them further. If he riled them up and they all charged at once, even he would find himself in a bind. Martial artists were simpler creatures than one might think—once their blood was up, they ignored all reason and counsel.
So Yeop Hyeon resolved to deal only with those who lunged forward.
At that moment, a man with a cold expression shouted out.
"Brothers! We've got the numbers—why not just all rush him together…"
Slash—!
A single streak of sword light flashed from somewhere, cutting his words short. Blood poured from his severed head as it thudded to the ground beyond the crowd.
The martial artists instinctively recoiled, stumbling back. Fear flickered in their eyes.
They were all hardened killers who had crossed the brutal expanses of Canglan Province.
But the man before them, Yeop Hyeon, was far more savage.
To lop off a head before a word could even escape!
After that, no one dared speak up.
Yeop Hyeon merely wiped the blood from his Thunderflash Sword with an impassive face.
Just as the standoff seemed to settle in, a man standing far from Yeop Hyeon called out.
"H-Hey there. I mean no harm—just want to say a word or two…"
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Speak."
"Your strength is undeniable. In my opinion, no young genius from Jungto Sinju could beat you one-on-one. But these warriors gathered here all belong to sects, clans, or mercenary bands."
The man cleared his throat and continued.
"If you keep blocking our path like this, you'll cut off their lifelines. Remember—do that, and every faction will turn against you!"
With that, he swiftly melted back into the crowd like a bolt of lightning. He had mustered the courage to speak his piece, but not to face the flying sword that might follow.
Yeop Hyeon shook his head slowly.
No grave without an excuse. If everyone only cared for their own safety, what would become of the world? Could one call a man a true citizen if he abandoned his nation's greater cause for personal gain?
People could always turn selfish.
But in a crisis like this, selfishness threatened everyone's survival. The greater the peril, the less room there was for self-interest.
"Truly moving."
At that moment, Yeon Man Ri approached Yeop Hyeon. She stopped before him and offered an elegant smile.
"National Scholar Yeop, your stand to defend Cheongju today will be remembered not just by our Daeun Empire, but by all of Cheongju!"
Then, a middle-aged man in the crowd shouted.
"Let's all push forward together! We've got the numbers—why fear just…"
Yeon Man Ri's hand clenched the air. Far from her, the middle-aged man clawed at his throat, eyes bulging. Veins swelled grotesquely in his neck until his head tore free from his body.
What in the world…!
As every warrior in the field recoiled in shock, Yeop Hyeon asked in astonishment.
"Wh-what martial art is that?"
"Jeodusul!"
Yeon Man Ri replied casually, glancing at him.
"Why? Want to learn? It does feel satisfying when the head pops."
"……."
Someone else in the crowd yelled.
"Brothers! If we die one by one like this, we're done for! Charge together!"
A dozen warriors surged toward Yeop Hyeon and Yeon Man Ri.
The others gripped their weapons, poised to leap—when seven swords burst from Yeop Hyeon's sword sheath.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh—whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, seven heads flew. The survivors among the dozen froze in terror, feet rooted.
But more and more were arming themselves, ready to charge. No matter how strong Yeop Hyeon was, he couldn't kill them all. Emboldened by their numbers, they prepared to rush.
Then Yeop Hyeon strode into their midst, sword in hand.
"Anyone else want to try?"
Want to try?
The warriors halted.
Right then—
"You're rampaging like a madman!"
An elderly man in black robes appeared nearby—the same one who had once guarded An Ranxiu.
But he wasn't from the An family.
"Yeop Hyeon, we of Sado Ga couldn't care less about the others—but you? If no one else steps up, Sado Ga will!"
He turned to the hundreds of warriors behind him.
"Everyone, leave this one to Sado Ga. Head straight into Cheongju. And once you're in, make sure to deal with Gangguk and Canglan Academy!"
Yet no one moved.
As if expecting this, the elder waved grandly. Ten Myriad Laws Realm experts emerged behind him.
Ten Myriad Laws Realm powerhouses?
"Yeop Hyeon, we know full well about the Sword Immortal at your back. But heed this: while spineless Cangmu Academy might cower, Sado Ga fears nothing…"
Yeop Hyeon roared in fury.
"I fear none of you!"
With that, he charged the elder, sword raised.
Yeop Hyeon was seething. He finally understood why the Heavenly Maiden had been so enraged before. When fools came knocking day after day like this, even a saint would snap.
Of course, trying to annihilate the world in her anger had been wrong.
More importantly, each time the Heavenly Maiden acted, the Gyeok Ok Tower within him grew more unstable—and his pain intensified.
The elder smirked mockingly and raised one hand. Vast energy flowed from it like a river.
Boom—!
Yeop Hyeon was hurled back a dozen zhang.
The elder shouted again at the hundreds behind him.
"Everyone, Yeop Hyeon is trying to sever your livelihoods—still hesitating?"
The warriors exchanged glances. Fear in their eyes ignited into killing intent, spreading like contagion.
A man in black martial robes pointed at Yeop Hyeon.
"Brothers, if word spreads that we hundreds cowered before one Yeop Hyeon, we'll be the laughingstock of Qingcang Realm!"
Laughingstock?
Indeed. How could they return to Jungto Sinju with faces intact if blocked here?
"Brothers, let's take out Yeop Hyeon first—then sweep every treasure from Cheongju!"
The word "treasure" set their blood ablaze.
Sensing the shift, the black-robed elder sneered coldly at Yeop Hyeon.
"Yeop Hyeon, I held you in high regard—yet today, I'm disappointed. To make enemies of all Jungto Sinju with your ant-like power? What fool would dare!"
He stepped closer, his smile twisting into a sneer.
"Do you know why Hogye Meng's forces left Cheongju? Because Jungto Sinju's factions agreed with Hogye Meng to sacrifice Cheongju and Canglan Province—to ease internal frictions. And you, clueless, strut about defending it? Utterly foolish!"
Foolish?
Yeop Hyeon's mind reeled.
He was strong. If he abandoned everything and went to Jungto Sinju to cultivate with Yeop Ryeong, his future would outshine anyone's.
But…
What of Canglan Academy?
Gangguk?
Jeoguk?
If Dean Ji Yuan Zhang hadn't intervened back then, Yeop Ryeong would be dead.
If not for him, Yeop Hyeon, Mu Yun Qi, and the others wouldn't be here.
On his deathbed, Ji Yuan Zhang had entrusted him with Canglan Academy. How could he abandon it now?
Gangguk's imperial family had aided him countless times.
He'd promised Cheok Bal-eon to protect Jeoguk.
Even Chwiseonru had turned from shadowy alliances and Cangmu Academy for his sake.
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"Heh… Debts of grudge linger, yet favors fade so easily. Humanity is truly foolish…"
He held his sword before his face, murmuring to his reflection.
"I, Yeop Hyeon—fight not for Cheongju, but for myself!"
A man must never forget his original resolve, his roots.
Just then, the three swords atop the Gyeok Ok Tower trembled faintly. The entire tower vibrated.
Boom—!
Something burst within Yeop Hyeon. White sword intent poured from his body, enveloping him—half of it gradually turning black. One side gleamed snow-white, the other pitch-black, forming an eerie duality.
The black-robed elder's face darkened.
"Enlightenment… This is bad. Must kill him before he ascends to Sword Emperor…"
Sword Emperor!
If a Sword Lord borrowed power—Chanse, the forces of wind or earth—a Sword Emperor commanded the energies of space and sky.
Should Yeop Hyeon become a Sword Emperor, he could wield heaven and earth alike.
Theoretically, Sword Emperor equated to Myriad Laws Realm. True Myriad Laws experts harnessed space through cultivation; Sword Emperors did so via the sword.
As the qualitative leap from Divine Fusion to Myriad Laws defined realms, so too between Sword Lord and Sword Emperor.
For Yeop Hyeon to reach Sword Emperor was tantamount to entering Myriad Laws Realm.
The elder's expression twisted further.